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Development and validation of a new measure for forced migrants/refugees: the Screening of Refugees Self-Report (ScoRE-SR)

Cardeña, Etzel LU orcid ; Sonne, Charlotte ; Vindbjerg, Erik ; Carlsson Lohmann, Jessica ; Cervin, Matti LU ; Silove, Derrick ; Hall, Joshua ; Coello, Mariano ; Momartin, Shake and Gusic, Sabina LU , et al. (2025) In Nordic Journal of Psychiatry
Abstract
Purpose: To remedy the lack of a measure that jointly assesses the psychological status and impact of migration stressors among forced migrants, we developed and tested the Screening of Refugees Self-Report (ScoRE-SR) Questionnaire.
Method: Four institutions with expertise on posttraumatic symptomatology and/or migration stressors developed the ScoRE-SR through an iterative process also involving consultation with migrants and experts. The measure consists of 54 items on functioning, migration stressors, and posttraumatic symptomatology. It was administered in English, Danish, Arabic, Farsi, Dari, and Tamil to migrants
(N = 149) from different countries and residency types (citizen, permanent resident, holder of temporary... (More)
Purpose: To remedy the lack of a measure that jointly assesses the psychological status and impact of migration stressors among forced migrants, we developed and tested the Screening of Refugees Self-Report (ScoRE-SR) Questionnaire.
Method: Four institutions with expertise on posttraumatic symptomatology and/or migration stressors developed the ScoRE-SR through an iterative process also involving consultation with migrants and experts. The measure consists of 54 items on functioning, migration stressors, and posttraumatic symptomatology. It was administered in English, Danish, Arabic, Farsi, Dari, and Tamil to migrants
(N = 149) from different countries and residency types (citizen, permanent resident, holder of temporary protection visa, and Asylum Seeker) at refugee assistance institutions in Australia and Denmark.
Analyses: The measure’s internal psychometric properties were evaluated through confirmatory factor analyses and test-retest (at 2–3 months) intraclass correlations. Its convergent validity was evaluated through correlating the measure with questionnaires expected to relate to it.
Results: The original 13 theoretical factors of the Score-SR showed adequate model-data fit, but CFAs indicated that a factor structure with 6 broader factors was more appropriate. These factors (emotional distress, anger, concerns about family/friends in other countries, concerns about family/friends in country of resettlement, adjustment/resettlement/practical difficulties, and impairment) were internally consistent, showed adequate temporal stability, and correlated as expected with measures of posttraumatic symptomatology and well-being.
Conclusions: The ScoRE-SR is a valid measure of different types of migrants’ distress and/or adjustment, filling a current gap and providing essential information for migrants’ guidance and treatment. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
forced migrants, refugees, measure, migration stressor, psychological health
in
Nordic Journal of Psychiatry
publisher
Informa Healthcare
external identifiers
  • pmid:40062738
  • scopus:86000536490
ISSN
1502-4725
DOI
10.1080/08039488.2025.2475940
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c5732089-3f45-4d58-8bee-e20968f6ebdf
date added to LUP
2025-03-11 12:37:20
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:45:14
@article{c5732089-3f45-4d58-8bee-e20968f6ebdf,
  abstract     = {{Purpose: To remedy the lack of a measure that jointly assesses the psychological status and impact of migration stressors among forced migrants, we developed and tested the Screening of Refugees Self-Report (ScoRE-SR) Questionnaire.<br/>Method: Four institutions with expertise on posttraumatic symptomatology and/or migration stressors developed the ScoRE-SR through an iterative process also involving consultation with migrants and experts. The measure consists of 54 items on functioning, migration stressors, and posttraumatic symptomatology. It was administered in English, Danish, Arabic, Farsi, Dari, and Tamil to migrants<br/>(N = 149) from different countries and residency types (citizen, permanent resident, holder of temporary protection visa, and Asylum Seeker) at refugee assistance institutions in Australia and Denmark.<br/>Analyses: The measure’s internal psychometric properties were evaluated through confirmatory factor analyses and test-retest (at 2–3 months) intraclass correlations. Its convergent validity was evaluated through correlating the measure with questionnaires expected to relate to it.<br/>Results: The original 13 theoretical factors of the Score-SR showed adequate model-data fit, but CFAs indicated that a factor structure with 6 broader factors was more appropriate. These factors (emotional distress, anger, concerns about family/friends in other countries, concerns about family/friends in country of resettlement, adjustment/resettlement/practical difficulties, and impairment) were internally consistent, showed adequate temporal stability, and correlated as expected with measures of posttraumatic symptomatology and well-being.<br/>Conclusions: The ScoRE-SR is a valid measure of different types of migrants’ distress and/or adjustment, filling a current gap and providing essential information for migrants’ guidance and treatment.}},
  author       = {{Cardeña, Etzel and Sonne, Charlotte and Vindbjerg, Erik and Carlsson Lohmann, Jessica and Cervin, Matti and Silove, Derrick and Hall, Joshua and Coello, Mariano and Momartin, Shake and Gusic, Sabina and Aroche, Jorge}},
  issn         = {{1502-4725}},
  keywords     = {{forced migrants; refugees; measure; migration stressor; psychological health}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  publisher    = {{Informa Healthcare}},
  series       = {{Nordic Journal of Psychiatry}},
  title        = {{Development and validation of a new measure for forced migrants/refugees: the Screening of Refugees Self-Report (ScoRE-SR)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2025.2475940}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/08039488.2025.2475940}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}